Apparatus for stacking articles in sheet form for electrical machines

Abstract

Apparatus for stacking and intermittently discharging stacks of sheet material for electrical machines and the like. A plurality of mandrels are provided which are successively movable into a position for forming stacks of sheets continually supplied by a horizontal conveyor. A turntable is provided for moving the mandrels into and out of respective sheet receiving positions. In order to accommodate intermediate stacking of the sheets while mandrels are being exchanged, a mandrel tip is provided which is positionable in alignment with the mandrels when in a sheet receiving position. During normal stacking operations, the mandrel tip is supported at the respective mandrel. During exchange of mandrels clamping jaws hold the mandrel tip in position and a slide member is moved into a position so as to hold an intermediate stack of sheets on the mandrel tip. Once a new empty mandrel has been placed in position under the mandrel tip, the holding jaws and the slide means are moved so as to permit the intermediate stack to fall onto the mandrel to start another stack of sheets.

We claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for stacking and intermittently discharging stacks of sheet material for electrical machines and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of mandrels configured for accepting a plurality of said sheets in stacked form thereon,   mandrel-moving means for successively moving said mandrels into and out of a sheet receiving position at a delivery zone of conveyor means successively supplying said sheets, whereby a mandrel with a stack of sheets formed therein is movable away from the sheet receiving position and an empty mandrel is movable into said sheet receiving position to effect a mandrel exchange,   a mandrel tip selectively positionable on respective ones of said mandrels at said delivery zone when said mandrels are in said sheet receiving position for accommodating stacking of said sheets on said mandrels over said mandrel tip,   means for engaging and holding said mandrel tip in position at said delivery zone during a mandrel exchange such that an intermediate stack of sheets can be accommodated on said mandrel tip during said mandrel exchange,   and transfer means for accommodating transfer of said intermediate stack to an empty mandrel after said mandrel exchange.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a movable slide is provided for holding said intermediate stack on said mandrel tip. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transfer means includes means for moving said movable slide to a position permitting passage of said intermediate stack over said mandrel tip and onto an empty mandrel. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for stacking and intermittently discharging stacks of sheet material for electrical machines and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of mandrels configured for accepting a plurality of said sheets in stacked form thereon,   mandrel moving means for successively moving said mandrels into and out of a sheet receiving position at a delivery zone of conveyor means successively supplying said sheets, whereby a mandrel with a stack of sheets formed thereon is movable away from the sheet receiving position and an empty mandrel is movable into said sheet receiving position to effect a mandrel exchange.   a mandrel tip selectively positionable at said delivery zone in alignment with respective ones of said mandrels when in said sheet receiving position for accommodating stacking of said sheets on said mandrels over said mandrel tip,   mandrel tip holding means for holding the mandrel tip in position at said delivery zone during a mandrel exchange such that an intermediate stack of sheets can be accommodated on said mandrel tip during said mandrel exchange,   said holding means including holding jaws for encompassing said mandrel tip, and   transfer means for accommodating transfer of said intermediate stack to an empty mandrel after said mandrel exchange.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said holding means includes position-cylinder means for actuating said holding jaws. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for stacking and intermittently discharging stacks of sheet material for electrical machines and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of mandrels configured for accepting a plurality of sheets in stacked form thereon,   mandrel moving means for successively moving said mandrels into and out of a sheet receiving position at a delivery zone of conveyor means successively supplying said sheets, whereby a mandrel with a stack of sheets formed thereon is movable away from the sheet receiving position and an empty mandrel is movable into said sheet receiving position to effect a mandrel exchange,   a mandrel tip positionable at said delivery zone in alignment with respective ones of said mandrels when in said sheet receiving position for accommodating stacking of said sheets on said mandrels over said mandrel tip,   mandrel tip holding means for holding said mandrel tip in position at said delivery zone during a mandrel exchange such that an intermediate stack of sheets can be accommodated on said mandrel tip during said mandrel exchange,   said holding means including holding jaws for encompasing said mandrel tip,   a movable slide for holding said intermediate stack on said mandrel tip, and   transfer means for accommodating transfer of said intermediate stack to an empty mandrel after said mandrel exchange, said transfer means including means for moving said movable slide to a position permitting passage of said intermediate stack over said mandrel tip and onto an empty mandrel.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said movable slide encompasses the mandrel tip in the manner of a fork at a position along said mandrel tip spaced from said holding jaws. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said mandrels extend vertically, and wherein said mandrel moving means includes means for lifting and lowering said mandrels in the direction of their longitudinal axes. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus for stacking and intermittently discharging stacks of sheet material for electrical machines and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of mandrels configured for accepting a plurality of said sheets in stacked form thereon, each mandrel is provided at one end with an external cone,   mandrel moving means for successively moving said mandrels into and out of a sheet receiving position at a delivery zone of conveyor means successively supplying said sheets, whereby a mandrel with a stack of sheets formed thereon is movable away from the sheet receiving position and an empty mandrel is movable into said sheet receiving position to effect a mandrel exchange,   a mandrel tip positionable at said delivery zone in alignment with respective ones of said mandrels when in said sheet receiving position for accommodating stacking of said sheets on said mandrels over said mandrel tip, said mandrel tip is provided at one end with an internal cone matingly engageable with respective ones of said external cones,   mandrel tip holding means for holding said mandrel tip in position at said delivery zone during a mandrel exchange such that an intermediate stack of sheets can be accommodated on said mandrel tip during said mandrel exchange, and   transfer means for accommodating transfer of said intermediate stack to an empty mandrel after said mandrel exchange.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus for stacking and intermittently discharging stacks of sheet material for electrical machines and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of mandrels configured for accepting a plurality of said sheets in stacked form thereon,   mandrel moving means for successively moving said mandrels into and out of a sheet receiving position at a delivery zone of conveyor means successively supplying said sheets, whereby a mandrel with a stack of sheets formed thereon is movable away from the sheet receiving position and an empty mandrel is movable into said sheet receiving position to effect a mandrel exchange,   a mandrel tip positionable at said delivery zone in alignment with respective ones of said mandrels when in said sheet receiving position for accommodating stacking of said sheets on said mandrels over said mandrel tip,   mandrel tip holding means for holding said mandrel tip in position at said delivery zone during a mandrel exchange such that an intermediate stack of sheets can be accommodated on said mandrel tip during said mandrel exchange,   a movable slide for holding said intermediate stack on said mandrel tip, said holding means is connected with said movable slide, and   transfer means for accommodating transfer of said intermediate stack to an empty mandrel after said mandrel exchange.   
     
     
       11. Apparatus for stacking and intermittently discharging stacks of sheet material for electrical machines and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of vertically extending mandrels configured for accepting a plurality of said sheets in stacked form thereon,   mandrel moving means for successively moving said mandrels into and out of a sheet receiving position at a delivery zone of conveyor means successively supplying said sheets, whereby a mandrel with a stack of sheets formed thereon is movable away from the sheet receiving position and an empty mandrel is movable into said sheet receiving position to effect a mandrel exchange, said mandrel moving means including means for lifting and lowering said mandrels in the direction of their longitudinal axes,   a mandrel tip positionable at said delivery zone in alignment with respective ones of said mandrels when in said sheet receiving position for accommodating stacking of said sheets on said mandrels over said mandrel tip,   mandrel tip holding means for holding said mandrel tip in position at said delivery zone during a mandrel exchange such that an intermediate stack of sheets can be accommodated on said mandrel tip during said mandrel exchange, and   transfer means for accommodating transfer of said intermediate stack to an empty mandrel after said mandrel exchange.   
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said conveyor means is a horizontal conveyor means for conveying said sheets in a substantially horizontal position thereon. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said conveyor means is disposed downstream of a press wherein said sheets are formed.